Acadian Museum Going Green With Provincial Funding

The Musée des Acadiens des Pubnicos in Yarmouth County will soon be powered by the sun, making it energy efficient, with funding from the Province.

Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie and MLA for Agyle, announced the funding today, October 18, on behalf of Environment and Climate Change Minister Timothy Halman.

The Société Historique Acadienne de Pubnico-Ouest, which owns and operates the museum, will use the funding to install solar panels and heat pumps, and make energy-saving upgrades.

“The society does important work to preserve and share our Acadian history and culture,” said Minister LeBlanc. “Our government is pleased to help them become sustainable and resilient to climate change, and reduce their carbon footprint so that they can continue to fulfill their critical role for generations to come.”

The society is receiving $98,475 from the Province’s Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund.

Quotes:

“The Société Historique Acadienne de Pubnico Ouest is grateful for the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund and the opportunity to make much-needed efficiency improvements to our heritage site. With this grant, the Musee des Acadiens des Pubnicos will be able to undertake improvements to the site’s thermal envelope, install energy efficient heating, and install a solar array to help bring our site in line with provincial emission goals.”
—Elaine Surette, Société Historique Acadienne de Pubnico-Ouest

“Nova Scotia's environment is becoming more sustainable and resilient thanks to the Société Historique Acadienne de Pubnico Ouest. By undertaking energy-efficient retrofits, installing heat pumps and a solar array, they are setting a powerful example of sustainable leadership. Their efforts preserve both cultural heritage and the environment, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to tackling climate change while safeguarding the community's history.”
— Juanita Spencer, CEO, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

Quick Facts:

• the government created the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund in 2021 as part of the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act, its legislated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, respond to climate change, transform how Nova Scotians produce and use energy, make homes and buildings energy efficient, and more
• the program provides grants to municipalities, non-profit and community organizations, post-secondary institutions and Mi’kmaw communities to help them respond to and prepare for climate change impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities was selected through a request for proposals process to develop and administer the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund on behalf of the government

Additional Resources:

More information on the Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund is available at: https://nschallengefund.ca/

News releases about the fund and related projects: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=228

Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act: https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/legc/statutes/environmental%20goals%20and%20climate%20change%20reduction.pdf

Our Climate, Our Future: Nova Scotia’s Climate Change Plan for Clean Growth: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/ns-climate-change-plan.pdf

Weathering What’s Ahead: Climate Change Risk and Nova Scotia’s Well-being: https://climatechange.novascotia.ca/climate-impacts